Citizens Flock to Busan's Bukhang After Surprise Shark Sighting: "The Shark Gives a Fan Service Every Five Minutes"

Crowds Gather for a Second Day as Sand Tiger Shark Spotted Again
Nearby Café Owner Says, "I Almost Want to Buy Mackerel for the Shark"
Jeansu Jeon: "Please Visit Often... We Promise to Ensure Safety"

A shark was spotted in the waterway of Bukhang Waterfront Park in Busan, prompting authorities to issue a safety warning. The area has unexpectedly become a local "shark tourism hotspot."

Citizens flocking to Bukhang Waterfront Park to see sharks. Photo by Jeon Jae-su, Mayor of Busan, via social media (SNS)

On September 20, news of the shark's appearance in the waterway of Bukhang Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, quickly spread across various social media platforms. Citizens flocked to see the shark, posting numerous sightings and videos online. Families with young children and individuals equipped with so-called "bazooka cameras" with telephoto lenses walked along the waterway, waiting for the shark to surface.

Yonhap News Agency

One user shared, "I made a day trip from Daegu to Busan just to see the shark," along with a video they had filmed. Other users commented, "The superstar shark comes close and does a tail flip as fan service every 5 to 10 minutes," and "Why isn’t it leaving? This shark must love the attention." Users also shared real-time updates on the shark's location via social media, saying, "The shark is still here."

A 3 to 4-meter-long whale shark is swimming in the waterway of the Bukhang Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan. Thread capture

Thanks to the influx, nearby businesses enjoyed an unexpected "shark boom." When a citizen posted that it took 40 minutes to get a drink after ordering at a cafe, the cafe owner replied, "I apologize to those who didn't receive their drinks or chose to give up," and joked, "I'd love to buy a few boxes of mackerel for the shark," which drew laughter.

As more visitors arrived, Mayor Jeon Jae-su of Busan also promoted the event. The mayor posted on social media the previous day, "Due to climate change, there are now more warm-water fish in Bukhang, which is likely why the shark came here to hunt for food," and cautioned that, "Going forward, sharks are expected to appear regularly around Bukhang."

A 3 to 4-meter-long white shark is swimming in the waterway of Busan Dong-gu Bukhang Waterfront Park. Thread capture

He added, "On the positive side, this shows that the ecosystem of Bukhang Waterfront Park is very healthy. I encourage citizens to visit and enjoy Bukhang, which will become the future of 'Marine Capital Busan.' We will ensure your safety."

According to Busan City and related agencies, a shark about 3 to 4 meters long was discovered in the waterway of Bukhang Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, at around 9 a.m. on September 18. Another sighting was reported at 1:05 p.m. the next day. The shark or sharks were identified as likely being sand tiger sharks (family Odontaspididae), but it could not be confirmed whether both sightings involved the same individual. The Coast Guard attempted to guide the shark back out to open water, but on the advice of relevant institutions that the shark might show aggression during this process, they are currently monitoring the situation and allowing the shark to return to the sea naturally.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.